Klas Pontus Arnoldson

Klas Pontus Arnoldson
(1844-1916)

Politician who figured prominently in solving the problems of the Norwegian-Swedish
Union. He was the cowinner (with Fredrik Bajer) of the Nobel Prize for
Peace in 1908.
Arnoldson became a railway clerk and rose to stationmaster (1871-81)
but then left the railway to devote himself entirely to politics. In
1881 he was elected to the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament. A passionately
devoted pacifist, Arnoldson supported the neutrality of the Nordic countries
and in 1883 helped to found the Swedish Association for Peace and Conciliation.

From 1890, when the conflict between Norway and Sweden was critical,
Arnoldson made use of all his powers, including his gift for inspiring
oratory, in an attempt to shape public opinion in both countries in
favour of a peaceful settlement. In 1905 he saw the result of his work
in the mutually agreed dissolution of the union.